LONDON -- Federated Identity is a phrase not typically associated with the government ID space, but protecting digital online identities is quickly becoming a growing area of focus for governments. FIM (Federated Identity Model) could be the future answer for improving security and privacy, whilst providing a citizen-centric user-friendly service in the access of e-government services. This potentially involves using mobile devices and/or dedicated secure credentials, such as national ID payment and SIM cards, as the authentication token. Although this market remains very much in its infancy, ABI Research forecasts that 786 million such credentials capable/supporting FIMs will ship in 2018.

In simple terms an FIM is the use of an identity service provider, securing the link between user and service provider. The identity provider authenticates the identity of the user to the service provider and authenticity of the website being accessed to the user, creating an online trust framework.

ABI Research believes that those best positioned to take advantage of this opportunity are the large IT and cloud computing organizations and maybe more surprisingly the leading smart card vendors. ABI Research believes the likes of Gemalto, G&D, Oberthur, and Morpho can leverage existing trusted relations with government and financial institutions alike, along with the possibility of leveraging TSM solutions, to provide the platform to enable the ability to offer identity as a service.

Research analyst Phil Sealy comments: “Although the market is still nascent, a lot of interest has been driven directly from government levels, aiming to implement not only a trusted digital identity, but a trusted eco-system for both user and service provider alike. Programs including NSTIC in the US and project STORK in Europe are attempting to encapsulate the definition of a digital identity trusted eco-system, defining responsibilities and accountability, whilst enabling a single digital credential, trusted across both public and private sector organizations. Given the recent media revelations surrounding privacy, creating further transparency in online security and increasing the level of privacy when access services will prove essential in order for governments to maintain trust with citizens.”

ABI Research’s “Securing Online Access to e-Government Services Through Federated ID” report addresses the emergence of FIMs within the government sector, providing ABI Research’s insight into federated identity, the current work that is being conducted to create an online trusted framework/ecosystem, and the likely future of FIMs being used to access e-government services.

These findings are part of ABI Research’s Government & Healthcare ID Technologies Research Service (http://www.abiresearch.com/research/service/government-healthcare-id-technologies/).

ABI Research provides in-depth analysis and quantitative forecasting of trends in global connectivity and other emerging technologies. From offices in North America, Europe and Asia, ABI Research’s worldwide team of experts advises thousands of decision makers through 70+ research and advisory services. Est. 1990. For more information visit www.abiresearch.com, or call +1.516.624.2500.